RE: MoTs scrapped for pre-1960 cars

MoTs scrapped for pre-1960 cars

Owners of older classic cars might well be cheering today after the Department of Transport announced that the MoT test for pre-1960 cars is to be abolished.

So while those of us with road cars modified for track use have been getting all het-up over changes to the MoT system that could make it difficult for certain mods to be permitted, the Government has been quietly busy getting the MoT dropped for older classics.

"Owners of classic cars and motorbikes tend to be enthusiasts who maintain their vehicles well," says transport minister Mike Penning. "They don't need to be told to look after them, they're out there in all weathers checking the condition of the engine, tyres and bodywork.

Under the new rules, the owners 160,000 or so pre-1960 cars on the road will still have to prove their cars are in a safe and roadworthy condition - and they will be able to undertake an MoT test should they choose to do so - but it will be voluntary.

The news seems to be getting a mixed reception in the classic car community, however. The Federation of British Historic Vehicles conducted a survey earlier in the year and found that, of the 4,000 respondents, 53 per cent of those surveyed said they would still take their vehicles for test on a voluntary basis, even though 59 per cent supported the government's preferred option of exempting all pre-1960 vehicles.

Our colleagues on Classic & Sports Car magazine also voiced concern about the news, pointing out that, without an officially sanctioned government test as protection, there is too great a responsibility on owners to ensure the roadworthiness of their cars.

"As owners we all seem to like the reassurance of a second pair of eyes checking over our cars and warning us of potential problems to come," says Group Editor James Elliott. "As enthusiasts, we all fear the repercussions for our hobby of the inevitable consequence when an unroadworthy MoT-exempt car (and there are guaranteed to be some) causes havoc, destruction and maybe even death."

Seem an odd one. How long before an idiot pulls a "dangorus" wreck out of a scrape yard and starts driving it just because it is pre-1960. Who is going to tell them it's unsafe? The Jaguar used in Morse was out of a scrape yard and not in good condition, so it will happen.

you will get dodgy people buying rough cars covering the rusty floors with underseal and selling on at a profitstupid idea,could have gone to a mot every 2 years,as most dont get used a lot it would have kept costs down for everyone

I think it's generally very reassuring for classic car owners to see their 'old' cars meet and pass the pretty tough modern-day MOT requirements and, as such, a string of historical MOT test certificates shows any potential buyer that a classic car has been kept up to a universally-recognised standard of roadworthiness. That helps the car's financial value on the classic car market as well - helping the seller in addition to giving the would-be buyer a fair degree of confidence.

I'm not actually in favour of this move but hopefully the huge majority of classic cars will continue to have their cars MOT'd annually.

In a similar way, despite being quite ambivalent towards the compulsory seat belt law all those years ago, if they suddenly announced tomorrow that we no longer had to 'buckle up', I know I'd carry on wearing one!

I don't agree with scrapping it altogether - I've owned many classic cars. Also, the age doesn't make any sense - why not a 40-year rolling cut-off so each car older than that can have an MoT every two years and free road tax?

You gotta wonder whats in the tea at VOSA these days. One minute they make it virtually impossible for some kit cars to get through IVA just because they have one piece of exposed GRP edge. The next minute they allow rusted old buckets on to the road without a safety check.

What worries me is that a lot of hot rods are still registered on the original 1920's / 30's plates yet have 500+ bhp and no MOT? No thanks!

"Owners of classic cars and motorbikes tend to be enthusiasts who maintain their vehicles well," says transport minister Mike Penning. "They don't need to be told to look after them, they're out there in all weathers checking the condition of the engine, tyres and bodywork.

So are owners of newer classics, Lotus owners, Ferrari owners... the list goes on. Why are pre 1960 cars considered to be better looked after?

What a crazy idea and smacks of nothing more than politics. "Look at us helping out the motorist" with a piece of legislation that is pointless nonsense.

Just because someone has got a pre-60 car doesn't mean that they know anything about the mechanicals and keeping it safe. They might be able to polish it repeatedly and keep it looking good, but it's what's under the body that really matters.

As a petrol head who hates the increasing stupidity and intrusion of the nanny state, this is a stupid piece of legislation.

I don't own a pre-1960 vehicle and rarely see one on the road. Needless to say, if one comes into contact with my virtually indestructible Euro-box, the occupants of the classic are going to come off badly, regardless of fault or condition of that vehicle.

Additionally, the new rule will not mean the driver of the classic will be exempted from making all reasonable efforts to ensure their vehicle is roadworthy befroe setting out on a journey, just like the rest of us.

What about it? Go back ten years when you could give the MOT tester a tenner to turn a blind eye, or phone mr Singh whose brother has a garage, with your details, and call around his house later the same evening with £40 and pick up your MOT certificate

"tend to keep them in good condition" since when has "tend" been good enough for any government agency.

I can't help but think most people who keep a pre '60 Car do so as a hobby, and it's not their daily driver so an extra £30 a year isn't going to bother them.

If this was coming from Westminster my BS alarm would be ringing, I'd be thinking to myself, Classic Car people tend to be a bit older, and as people generally like to collect cars from their teenage years this will please a lot of older folk who haven't been as well looked after by the Con/Dems as they might have hoped and this is a vote winner for them.

But as it's come from VOSA I have to assume the whole MOT network isn't self-funding and they've had their budget from central government cut.